Simon Says Die

give her any leverage.
    She was in a car trunk. She knew that even without any light. The fluorescent emergency trunk release glowed in the dark, tantalizingly close but out of reach.
    She remembered going into the kitchen for more coffee. Someone had grabbed her from behind. He’d put a sweet-smelling cloth over her nose and mouth. After that, everything went black. He must have somehow taken her out of her house, and put her in this car.
    But who? Damon? Or someone else?
    From the aches and pains in her back and hips, she knew she’d been in the trunk for quite some time. She shivered, the cold seeming to seep into her bones without the benefit of a coat. But she was thankful it was cold outside. If she’d been left in a car trunk in the heat of summer, she would have baked to death.
    She strained against her bonds again, twisting and pulling, trying to get her hands up under her bottom and over her legs to get her hands in front of her. If she could do that, she could pull the trunk release and try to get away before her captor came back.
    Several minutes later, she collapsed back against the carpeted trunk bottom, gasping in deep breaths of chilly air. No luck. She was still trussed up just as soundly as she’d been when she woke up.
    How long could she survive in this trunk? If she didn’t die of hypothermia, she’d run out of air soon, wouldn’t she? Or were trunks not airtight these days? How many more minutes, or hours, of good air, did she have left?
    God, please don’t let me die. Not like this.
    If someone were near the car, would they hear her in the trunk? What if the man who’d taken her was standing outside? She couldn’t lie here and just do nothing. She had to take the chance that someone might hear her, and would help her.
    She drew a deep breath and screamed.
    T WO HOURS.
    Madison had been gone for more than two hours, and Pierce still had no leads about what had happened to her.
    He and Matt were the only ones in Madison’s home office right now. The police had executed their search warrant, and Hamilton and the others were in the family room discussing next steps.
    Matt had surprised Pierce by wanting to help. He’d organized the B&B crew and his brothers, and they were out driving the roads. But in spite of all that manpower, and the BOLO the police had issued to be on the lookout for Madison’s bright red convertible, no one had spotted her car.
    â€œIt’s a lot of area to cover.” Matt traced his fingers across the map spread out on Madison’s desk.
    â€œI appreciate your help.”
    â€œThat’s what family’s for.”
    Pierce gripped Matt’s shoulder and gave him a nod of thanks. He was only just now beginning to realize how much he’d distanced himself from his family over the years as he worked on the serial-killer task forces he used to be on. But his brothers had forgiven him and were doing everything they could to help, pulling together like families were supposed to.
    A commotion at the front door had Pierce and Matt looking up. A moment later, Tessa stepped into the room. From the look on her face, Pierce knew he wasn’t going to like what she had to say.
    â€œThanks for coming. This is Matt, one of my brothers.”
    She shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.” She glanced over at the detectives and police officers in the next room. “We need to talk, in private.”
    â€œThere’s a mother-in-law suite off the kitchen. We can go there.” Pierce led the way through the family room, avoiding Hamilton’s curious glance when he, Matt, and Tessa stepped through the archway into the kitchen.
    â€œIs he coming with us?” Tessa looked pointedly at Matt.
    â€œ He can hear you just fine, and yes, he is coming too.” Matt stared at her, as if daring her to try to stop him.
    Pierce opened the door to the sitting room that was part of the mother-in-law suite, and ushered the others inside before closing the door behind them. “Matt’s helping with the search, and he’s smarter than you and me combined. He wants to help.”
    Tessa shrugged and turned her back on Matt to face Pierce.
    Matt, having none of that, sidled around to join the three of them.
    She ignored him. “I’ve got a confirmed sighting of Madison’s car at a motel outside of town, just off the interstate.”
    Relief poured through him. “Let’s go.”
    She